The Truth About Being a Christian
I am a proclaimed Christian which means I believe in my heart the Word of God is true, God sent His only son, Jesus Christ, to die for us, and that through Jesus is the only way into God's kingdom once this we've departed from this earthly life. I just want to make a few points here on what it means to be a Christian as this is often misconstrued.
1) Believing and Accepting Christ - The Bible tells us in John 3:16 (NIV) this: "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life." It has become a popular belief that there are multiple paths to God and to heaven. If this were true then it would nullify the power of the Cross and Jesus would have died for nothing. Some also believe that Jesus was just a good person and a great teacher that reached out to others. Whereas this is true we cannot neglect the Trinity of God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit as being One. God loves us and wants us to live a life of fulfillment through Him.
God simply asks us to believe that He sent Jesus to die for our sins so that we're covered by the blood of Christ. Our salvation is not based on deeds nor are we required to be perfect as this is impossible. Of course our actions are often the result of our true heart but this doesn't mean we'll never make mistakes or make bad decisions. I've made plenty and still do!
You can accept Christ right now as you're reading this. Simply ask Jesus into your heart. You can pray something like this: 'God, I believe you sent your Son, Jesus, to die for me. I ask you to forgive me of all my sins; I accept you into my heart and I ask for your will to be done in my life.'
2) What Really Matters: Your Heart - Contrary to what many may think, living for Christ is not about a list of rules and regulations; Christianity is about the heart. The apostles of Christ did not call themselves Christians. Rather, other people called them Christians because they truly followed Christ. This doesn't mean they were perfect as they all had shortfalls just as we all fall short at times. Jesus had a heart for people and had compassion for others. Whatever our calling is in this life, the basis of that calling is to have a heart for other people.
3) What it Means to be a Christian and How We Are to Live - We are not called as Christians to condemn, judge, point fingers, or be what I like to call spiritual snobs. In the book of Mark, chapter 12 one of the teachers of the law asked Jesus what is the greatest and most important commandment. Jesus responded in verses 30 and 31: "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength. The second is this: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' There is no commandment greater than these."
Galatians 5:14 tells us that the entire law is summed up in a single command: "Love your neighbor as yourself."
Maybe you've had questions or misconceptions about what it means to truly be a Christian. The basis of Christianity is really quite simple; it's allowing God, the Holy Spirit to move in your life and having a heart for others. Maybe you've seen 'bad examples' of Christians and this has turned you off altogether. Trust me, I can relate. But we cannot let the behavior or actions of others affect our true destiny and the calling that God has on our lives. The Bible tells us that we are to work out our own salvation (Philippians 2:12). Likewise the Bible talks much about the body of Christ, specifically in Romans chapter 5 telling us we are to work together as members of one body. This means God has a unique plan for all of us and we are not to think of our function as more important than someone else's and we are not to look down on or judge others because their function, or calling, is different from ours. We are to be as one, believing in the One and only true God who sent His son Jesus to die for us, and to be a light to others.
If anything, know that God loves you and He has a purpose for your life!
If you have any questions on this, feel free to drop me an email: jason.m.stallworth@gmail.com
1) Believing and Accepting Christ - The Bible tells us in John 3:16 (NIV) this: "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life." It has become a popular belief that there are multiple paths to God and to heaven. If this were true then it would nullify the power of the Cross and Jesus would have died for nothing. Some also believe that Jesus was just a good person and a great teacher that reached out to others. Whereas this is true we cannot neglect the Trinity of God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit as being One. God loves us and wants us to live a life of fulfillment through Him.
God simply asks us to believe that He sent Jesus to die for our sins so that we're covered by the blood of Christ. Our salvation is not based on deeds nor are we required to be perfect as this is impossible. Of course our actions are often the result of our true heart but this doesn't mean we'll never make mistakes or make bad decisions. I've made plenty and still do!
You can accept Christ right now as you're reading this. Simply ask Jesus into your heart. You can pray something like this: 'God, I believe you sent your Son, Jesus, to die for me. I ask you to forgive me of all my sins; I accept you into my heart and I ask for your will to be done in my life.'
2) What Really Matters: Your Heart - Contrary to what many may think, living for Christ is not about a list of rules and regulations; Christianity is about the heart. The apostles of Christ did not call themselves Christians. Rather, other people called them Christians because they truly followed Christ. This doesn't mean they were perfect as they all had shortfalls just as we all fall short at times. Jesus had a heart for people and had compassion for others. Whatever our calling is in this life, the basis of that calling is to have a heart for other people.
3) What it Means to be a Christian and How We Are to Live - We are not called as Christians to condemn, judge, point fingers, or be what I like to call spiritual snobs. In the book of Mark, chapter 12 one of the teachers of the law asked Jesus what is the greatest and most important commandment. Jesus responded in verses 30 and 31: "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength. The second is this: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' There is no commandment greater than these."
Galatians 5:14 tells us that the entire law is summed up in a single command: "Love your neighbor as yourself."
Maybe you've had questions or misconceptions about what it means to truly be a Christian. The basis of Christianity is really quite simple; it's allowing God, the Holy Spirit to move in your life and having a heart for others. Maybe you've seen 'bad examples' of Christians and this has turned you off altogether. Trust me, I can relate. But we cannot let the behavior or actions of others affect our true destiny and the calling that God has on our lives. The Bible tells us that we are to work out our own salvation (Philippians 2:12). Likewise the Bible talks much about the body of Christ, specifically in Romans chapter 5 telling us we are to work together as members of one body. This means God has a unique plan for all of us and we are not to think of our function as more important than someone else's and we are not to look down on or judge others because their function, or calling, is different from ours. We are to be as one, believing in the One and only true God who sent His son Jesus to die for us, and to be a light to others.
If anything, know that God loves you and He has a purpose for your life!
If you have any questions on this, feel free to drop me an email: jason.m.stallworth@gmail.com
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